Magnetic card

Abstract

A magnetic card comprises (1) a planar substrate having at least a surface layer of a thermoplastic resin, (2) a magnetic layer disposed at at least one part of a surface of the planar substrate, (3) a color layer disposed on the magnetic layer, and (4) a pattern layer disposed on the color layer. In this magnetic card, the color of the magnetic layer which does not contribute to an attractive appearance is hidden under the color layer, and, because the pattern layer is disposed on the color layer, the pattern is not restricted by the color of the magnetic layer and appears clear due to the presence of the color layer. Accordingly, this magnetic card can be produced with an improved appearance from the viewpoint of design.

We claim: 
     
       1. A magnetic card comprising: (1) a planar substrate having at least a surface layer of a thermoplastic resin;   (2) a magnetic layer disposed at at least one part of a surface of the planar substrate;   (3) a color layer disposed on the magnetic layer; and   (4) a pattern layer disposed on the color layer.   
     
     
       2. A magnetic card as claimed in claim 1 which further comprises a protective resin layer disposed on the pattern layer. 
     
     
       3. A magnetic card as claimed in claim 1 wherein the magnetic layer is disposed at a part of a surface of the substrate. 
     
     
       4. A magnetic card as claimed in claim 2 wherein the magnetic layer, color layer, pattern layer, and protective resin layer are successively disposed and embedded at a part of the substrate so that the surface of the protective layer lies in the same plane as the surface of the substrate. 
     
     
       5. A magnetic card as claimed in claim 3 wherein the color layer and the pattern layer are disposed over the entire surface of the substrate. 
     
     
       6. A magnetic card as claimed in claim 5 wherein the magnetic layer is embedded in the substrate. 
     
     
       7. A magnetic card as claimed in claim 1 wherein the magnetic layer, the color layer, and the pattern layer are disposed over the entire surface of the substrate. 
     
     
       8. A magnetic card as claimed in claim 1 wherein the substrate has a laminar structure comprising a pair of opaque core sheets which are bonded to each other and a pair of over sheets respectively provided on the outer surfaces of the bonded core sheets. 
     
     
       9. A magnetic card as claimed in claim 8 wherein the over sheets are transparent. 
     
     
       10. A magnetic card as claimed in claim 5 wherein the substrate has a color tone similar to that of the magnetic layer when viewed from the side of the magnetic layer. 
     
     
       11. A magnetic card as claimed in claim 10 wherein the substrate has a laminar structure comprising a pair of opaque core sheets which are bonded to each other and a pair of over sheets respectively provided on the outer surfaces of the bonded core sheets. 
     
     
       12. A magnetic card as claimed in claim 11 wherein the over sheets are transparent and the core sheet which is nearer to the magnetic layer has a color tone similar to that of the magnetic layer. 
     
     
       13. A magnetic card as claimed in claim 11 wherein the over sheet which is nearer to the magnetic layer has a color tone similar to that of the magnetic layer. 
     
     
       14. A magnetic card as claimed in claim 11 wherein the over sheets are transparent and the substrate comprises a colored resin layer interposed between the over sheet which is nearer to the magnetic layer and the core sheets, said resin layer having a color tone similar to that of the magnetic layer. 
     
     
       15. A magnetic card as claimed in claim 11 wherein the substrate further comprises a colored resin layer on the over sheet which is nearer to the magnetic layer, said resin layer having a color tone similar to that of the magnetic layer. 
     
     
       16. A magnetic card as claimed in claim 1 wherein: the magnetic layer has a thickness of from 5 to 20 μm; the color layer has a thickness of from 2 to 15 μm; and the pattern layer has a thickness of from 1 to 10 μm. 
     
     
       17. A magnetic card as claimed in claim 2 wherein the protective resin layer has a thickness of from 0.5 to 3 μm. 
     
     
       18. A magnetic card as claimed in claim 9 which comprises a print pattern between the over sheet which is farther from the magnetic layer and the core sheet. 
     
     
       19. A process for producing a magnetic card which comprises: (1) disposing successively at at least one part of a first over sheet a magnetic layer comprising a magnetic material powder and a binder of a natural or synthetic resin, a color layer, a pattern layer, and a protective resin layer to obtain a first laminate, and   (2) providing a second over sheet, sandwiching a pair of core sheets between the second over sheet and the first over sheet of the first laminate, and heating under pressure the entire structure thus prepared to obtain a magnetic card.   
     
     
       20. A process as claimed in claim 19 wherein the magnetic layer is disposed on a part of the first over sheet in step (1), and the magnetic layer is embedded in the over sheet of the end magnetic card. 
     
     
       21. A process for producing a magnetic card which comprises: (1) disposing successively at at least one part of a planar support a protective resin layer, a pattern layer, a color layer, and a magnetic layer comprising a magnetic material powder and a binder of a thermoplastic resin to obtain a first laminate,   (2) placing the magnetic layer of the first laminate in contact with a first over sheet of a thermoplastic resin, bonding the first laminate to the first over sheet by heating under pressure, and peeling off the planar support from the bonded structure thus obtained to leave a second laminate, and   (3) providing a second over sheet, sandwiching a pair of core sheets between the second over sheet and the first over sheet of the second laminate, and heating under pressure the entire structure thus prepared to obtain a magnetic card.   
     
     
       22. A process as claimed in claim 21 wherein the magnetic layer is placed in contact with a part of the first over sheet in step (2), and the magnetic layer is embedded in the first over sheet of the end magnetic card. 
     
     
       23. A process for producing a magnetic card which comprises: (1) disposing successively at at least one part of a planar support a protective resin layer, a pattern layer, and a color layer to obtain a first laminate;   (2) placing at at least one part of a first over sheet of a thermoplastic resin a magnetic layer comprising a magnetic material powder and a binder of a thermoplastic resin to obtain a second laminate;   (3) providing a second over sheet and a pair of core sheets, disposing successively in laminated stete the second over sheet, the pair of core sheets, the second laminate, and the first laminate in the order named, the first over sheet of the second laminate being placed in contact with one of the core sheets, the magnetic layer of the second laminate being in contact with the color layer of the first laminate, and heating under pressure the entire structure thus prepared to obtain a bonded structure; and   (4) peeling off the planar support from the bonded structure thus prepared to obtain a magnetic card.